title: Vulvodynia: An unrecognized diabetic neuropathic syndrome.
abstract: Vulvar pain syndromes, including vulvodynia, are a common source of morbidity in women and cause much physical and psychological suffering. This brief communication postulates the hypothesis that unexplained vulvar pain may be hitherto undescribed manifestation of painful sensory diabetic neuropathy. It describes the clinical characteristics of vulvodynia and highlights the similarities between this condition and diabetic neuropathy. The hypothesis calls for women presenting with vulvar pain to be screened for diabetes, as well as women with diabetes to be questioned about vulvar symptomatology. The paper hopes to stimulate extensive research in this important, but so far neglected, field of women's endocrine health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Bharti Hospital and BRIDE, Karnal, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Bharti
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.forename: Sarita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bajaj
keywords: Chronic vulvar pain; diabetes mellitus; dysfunction; dyspareunia; female sexual; gender; glucose control; hyperesthesia